Wii 2007 Preview

All the big titles that have so far been announced for the Wii’s first full year in the gaming world. Start saving up those coppers...

Battalion Wars 2

Shown off for the first time at the GC in Leipzig, this is the sequel to the GameCube title developed by UK outfit Kuju Entertainment. Commander Pierce and Colonel Windsor of the Anglo Isles launch a pre-emptive strike on the Coral Atolls after being tricked into believing that the Solar Empire is developing a devastating super weapon. Predictably, worldwide war ensues and you are in the thick of it.
You get to drive tanks, command ships, pilot planes and move about hundreds of troops as you are plonked right into the crux of the action. Fully equipped with an online mode, the game features three multiplayer modes for play over the Internet. Assault allows you instant combat access, skirmish adds some tactical depth and co-op lets you go to war with the help of a friend. Once again there is the combination of combat on land, sea and in the air and there are loads of new landscapes and units to be enjoyed. The game promises 20+ single player and 15+ (different) multiplayer missions along with ‘increased replay value’. Nintendo keep trying to call it BWii, this is stupid. End.

Project H.A.M.M.E.R.

Announced at E3 2006, the premise and mission in this game appears simple. Killer robots are attacking major cities across the US of A and the military is powerless to stop them. You take control of a Project H.A.M.M.E.R. prototype cyborg: half man, half machine and with a ruddy great hammer to, well...hammer things with. Yes, its a great excuse for a bloody good whack...

Pick up the Wii remote and start swinging to unleash your amazing hammer on anything that gets in the way. You use the nunchuck controller in one hand to move about the environments and then the main controller to whack about your tremendously large hammer. It doesn’t appear to be a game of any fantastical subtlety, with the A button being used for (we quote) “quick hammer flurries”. Basically, this is an excuse to smash things and not get in trouble for it. What would be better? Warning: attach Wiimote to hand securely before playing.

Disaster: Day of Crisis

Another title that was shown off at E3 2006 and then ran away and hid in the shadows. With a nod and a wink to ‘The Day After Tomorrow’, you are shoved right into the middle of a series of rather unprecedented natural disasters that (you guessed it) have hit the USA. Obviously, nothing ever happens on those other insignificant continents...

On top of all this nasty natural disaster tomfoolery you have to put up with a rogue special forces unit who take advantage of the chaos and the carnage and steal some nuclear weapons. In true cliche style only a man called Ray, a former member of an elite rescue task force, can stop them. It sounds like a very large scale cinematic experience that is sure to be great fun and will hopefully make innovative use of the Wii controller to deliver a unique playing experience. Definitely one to keep an eye on.

Mario Strikers Charged

The sequel to the GameCube original as Mario is shamelessly used to sell another title. Having played this one at a recent Wii press event in London we can confirm that it looks great and the visuals have a really vivid colour scheme with some very cool visual effects thrown in for good measure. Use of the Wii controller is minimal, as most things are done with the control stick and buttons. Tackling is done by shaking the controller and you can also do the standard fare of Mega Strikes and stupidly aggressive tackles along with firing off weapons and all the stuff from the GameCube title. Certainly good fun but lacking a bit in the innovation department. This game is also set to take full advantage of the Wi-Fi Connection for loads of multiplayer fun and games.

WarioWare: Smooth Moves

Apparently knocked out of the UK launch list to give Rayman a bit of breathing space, WarioWare is as wacky and zany as ever. More than 200 super-fast ‘microgames’ which all make fantastically good use of the Wii controller. It may look basic, but the gameplay and fun factor alone are enough reason to pick this one up. Amazingly enough the game also has a story line...which is strange, but aside from that you basically ‘say what you see’. Pointlessly wonderfully good fun. Buy it, this is what the Wii is all about.

Excite Truck

Not out in Europe at launch for some maddening reason, Excite Truck has been getting some mixed reviews in the USA, but the general consensus is that it is pretty good fun. Big trucks, big jumps, big tracks, large on the air-time and very bouncy too, this is a really fun game that makes good use of the Wii controller.

Contrary to popular belief, you don’t have to wave around your arms like a madman (if you do you’ll fail), but instead use small, acute and accurate movements to maneuver your ceeerazzzy truck from start to finish. You can upload your own MP3 tracks to play during the game, which is pretty damn cool. Alas, the game only supports two player split screen in multiplayer which is a bit of a letdown, but don’t let that put you of this manic title.

Super Mario Galaxy

Need we say more? The ultimate Nintendo character in the ultimate Nintendo franchise. Mario is back, and potentially better than ever. A conventional game that really incorporates the Wii controller into its style and it is on this basis that Mario Galaxy is brilliant. Set in space, you can use the remote to spin Mario from planetoid to planetoid, guide him through space and spin away fire balls as you navigate your way through this unique platform title. Peach has been kidnapped by some evil creature and once again you have to don your dungarees and fly off into the void to save her. Believe us, flying through space for the first time in this game is a very special experience.

Metroid Prime 3: Corruption

Originally slated in as a launch title, Metroid was batted back into 2007 to make room for Zelda. Once again you take control of Samus, which is done by moving about the nunchuck controller and aiming with the pointer, allowing for a truly immersive experience. If you think you knew what it felt like to be the bounty hunter behind the visor, think again. Take aim at evil with Nintendo's revolutionary controller. All the favourites are back from the Grapple Beam to the Morph Ball, as well as a whole lot of new stuff to keep things fresh and interesting. The control system can be a bit daunting to start with and is a little tricky to pick up, but when you master if you’ll be firing off shots as you fly through the air and sprint around the gorgeously detailed environments. Expect a fanatically cinematic and truly epic experience.

Big Brain Academy

Nintendo head for the older gamer as the DS smash hit sets its sights on the Wii. Not much is known about this one yet, other than it will have a multiplayer versus and co-op play and make unique and exciting use of the Wii controller. Nintendo are promising it will also be a ‘raucous party game’. We’ll reserve judgement on that. Expect more information during early 2007...

Super Smash Bros Brawl

It looks fantastic, it has Solid Snake in it and it has online play. We’re sold already. It won’t make use of the unique Wii controller, favouring a more conventional control scheme. A huge character roster packed full of all sorts of great Nintendo characters and what promises to be a totally epic multiplayer experience. Back from the GameCube version comes Mario, Luigi, Pikachi, Peach, Samus, Link and many others. Also confirmed as being playable characters so far we have Pit, Solid Snake, Zero Suit Samus, Meta Knight, Fox and Wario. One of the best titles on the N64 and the GameCube, this is a title that is still a bit of a mystery to anyone outside the development team. With music provided in party by the legendary Nobuo Uematsu, it couldn’t really sound much better. Super Smash Bros Brawl promises an unrivalled online fighting experience that is sure to make it a must have. We can’t wait...
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